Dubai Makes IP Clinic Permanent to Support Emirati Entrepreneurs and Brand Protection

The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) announced that their Intellectual Property (IP) Clinic has been converted into an ongoing service following a pilot programme, Gulf Business reported.

The initiative provides eligible Emirati entrepreneurs with one-to-one consultations before they begin formal registration. The sessions evaluate business models, brand identities, and market differentiation to identify assets requiring legal protection and to guide founders on trademark classes, ownership rules, and necessary documentation.

Ahmad Al Room Almheiri, CEO of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Dubai SME), stated that protecting intangible assets early provides a foundation for growth and enables founders to move from awareness to action to support capital raising, franchising, and international expansion.

Khalifa Al Qama, Chief of Research, Development and Innovation at DFF, stated that intellectual property strategies begin before filing and that the clinic offers a dedicated environment for founders to make early, informed decisions.

The service forms part of the Dubai IP Hub, established in 2024 by DFF and the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism. It also supports the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which aims to double the size of the emirate's economy by 2033.